Montrose, Colorado
Rev. Willis A. (Bert) Jones, a country preacher & Bible teacher
January 6, 2016
The Wise Men!
Something strange happened in the East many years before the first Christmas. Daniel taught the wise men of his day that a messiah would come. Daniel also taught the magi that a sign in the sky would announce this coming messiah. About 536 years later some (three because three gifts were involved) wise-men saw a special star and then traveled from Kurdistan to Bethlehem, a distance of about 350 miles. They carried with them gold, frankincense and myrrh which they gave as gifts to the new King. This is celebrated by Christians on January 6 each year. This celebration is called Epiphany, which is a commemoration of the coming of the Magi as the first manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles.(See Matthew 2:1`-16.) Why these three gifts?
Gold is for His Kingship. The gold was used for the soon trip to Egypt. The star that the Wise-men followed also represented gold.
Frankincense which is made from the sap of a certain tree is a perfume. Worship the Priest Jesus.
Myrrh, an ointment made from a myrrh plant and used as a medicine.
All of the above are of high value and could be sold for Jesus' family's sojourn in Egypt. These gifts provided the needed funds for that trip to Egypt. This was in order the escape the King of Judah edict to kill all Bethlehem infant boys under two years old.